Thank you for your comprehension....

The curse still lives on. Due to the strike... is anyone else sick of that phrase?... we took an earlier train to Paris, then made it on time for one of the few trains going to Rennes. Luckily it was a high speed TGV train, so it was supposed to be a quick trip. However, over the course of the next three and a half hours these messages came over the train's loudspeaker:
"Ladies and gentlemen: Due to scheduling problems this train will be moving its departure time back 45 minutes. Thank you for your comprehension."
"Ladies and gentlemen: Due to problems with the high speed lines this train will now be taking common train tracks. Thank you for your comprehension."
"Ladies and gentlemen: Due to other train problems this train will now be stopping at 4 additional stops along the way. Thank you for your comprehension."
"Ladies and gentlemen: Due to sabotage to the rail signals last night, this train must wait 20 minutes before proceeding. Thank you for your comprehension."
I was really just waiting for the announcement that "Ladies and gentlemen: Due to lack of patience and a general laziness we've decided to cancel the train entirely. You're all on your own. Good luck... and thank you for your comprehension." Fortunately that one didn't come and in time we did arrive in Rennes and were able to catch a bus out to Mont St Michel.
Once there we followed Rick's guide around the abbey, got some amazing views of the bay, ate a fabulous lunch of omlettes and muscadet wine, walked in the bay at low tide, just before it started coming in, and then walked down the causeway for some great views of the whole island.
Mont St Michel is essentially a 1000+ year old abbey built on this rock for solitude and to be closer to god. Since 992 an order of Benedictine monks secluded themselves here. In the Middle Ages it became an incredibly popular pilgrimage site, though the lack of a road across the bay at that point and quicksand made it quite hazardous. Over the centuries pilgrims have become tourists and now the abbey is a tourist trap, but the abbey still operates as such, though a new order of monks is in control. Overall a fabulous day.
Everyone have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving!!!